Shamus Nominee

Congratulations to Dave "Evan" Lewis on his Shamus Award nomination for the short story "The Continental Opposite," which appeared in the May 2015 issue of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine. This feat is all the greater when you consider he scratched it out on pieces of birch bark using a blackened twig.

Bill Crider

     As many of you know, Bill Crider is facing a very serious health issue right now. To say I'm devastated is an understatement. Bill and I have been friends since the 1980 Bouchercon. We were in Dapa-Em together from when I joined in 1979 until it stopped publishing in 2004. Bill never missed contributing to a mailing. He never missed contributing to MDM, my letterzine (200 issues), or OWLHOOT, the Western apa I ramrod (55 issues to date). He tuckerized me in many of his writings. Bill claims authorship of about 60 books but the total is much higher. He ghosted scores of books for friends over the years, many in the male action or Western line. He's too modest or honest to claim credit for them.
     If not for Bill my paltry two books wouldn't have been published. He's the one who recommended me to Five Star and I wouldn't be surprised if he put in a good word.
     When I was Fan Guest of Honor at the 1997 Bouchercon, Bill introduced me.
     Bill Crider has been a solid constant in my life for decades. Sometimes I wonder why. He's modest, quiet, and unassuming. I'm lacking in tact and many other social graces (but I'm working on it). He's a hard-working achiever. I'm lazy. He runs, I haunt my recliner. Maybe it's the odd couple phenomenon.
     Whatever it may be, I admire, respect, and envy Bill Crider for who he is, what he's done, and his subtle wit. Did you know he's a PhD.? A lot of people with that accomplishment would insist on being called Doctor. Not Bill, not in his dealings with the public or among friends.
     I'm hoping as hard as I can that the next time I write about him it'll be to tell you that he's back as big as ever, healthy and strong and still modest. Whatever your spiritual leanings, it might be nice to offer up a prayer, dance around a fire, draw a pentagram, chant, or whatever you do to invoke good spirits to help with his recovery.
     Thank you.

Bill is the one with the book. I'm the wise guy giving him horns. 

Happy Anniversary

     Three years ago today Kristine, my little one, married Jacob Jorgensen. As you know they now have a baby girl, Klara, who will be seven weeks tomorrow. That's them with me; I was having one of my usual bad hair days.

One Month Old

     Klara turned one month old yesterday, July 2, and she was over at the house for lunch. The top photo shows her on my lap and the lower one has her on a pillow as proud papa Jacob looks on. She gained about three pounds since she was born and feels like a little sack of rice. She has big blue eyes and lists her hobbies as eating, sleeping, and filling her diaper.

Is This Your Candidate?

Broomstick One Quotes from Hillary Clinton.... There it is ........book, chapter and page.......the real Hillary! LOOK THESE UP IN THE BOOKS  AND PAGE NUMBERS CITED IF YOU  WISH. EIGHT QUOTES FROM DIFFERENT BOOKS         Hillary's actual  words:       (1)  "Where is the Goddamn flag? I want the Goddamn  fucking flag up every morning at fucking sunrise.           From the book "Inside the White House" by Ronald  Kessler, p. 244 Hillary to staff at the Arkansas Governor's mansion on Labor Day 1991.       (2)  "Fuck off! It's enough I have to see you shit-kickers every day! I'm not going to talk to you, too!! Just do your Goddamn job and keep your mouth shut."             From the book "America Evita" by Christopher Anderson, p.90; Hillary to her State Trooper  bodyguards after one of them greeted her with  "Good  Morning. "       (3)  "If you want to remain on this detail, get  your fucking ass over here and grab those  bags!"           From  the book "The First Partner" p. 259; Hillary to  a Secret Service Agent who was reluctant to carry her luggage because he wanted to keep his hands           free in case of an incident.           (4) "Stay the fuck back,  stay the fuck back away from me! Don't come  within ten yards of me, or else! Just fucking do as I say, Okay!!?"            From the book "Unlimited Access" by Clinton 's FBI  Agent-in-Charge, Gary Aldridge, p. 139; Hillary  is screaming at her Secret Service detail.                                                                         (5) "Where's the miserable cock sucker?" (otherwise known as "Bill  Clinton")                      From  the book "The Truth about Hillary" by Edward  Klein, p.5; Hillary shouting at a Secret Service officer.         (6) "You fucking idiot"              From the book "Crossfire" ~p. 84; Hillary to a State Trooper  who was driving her to an event.         (7) "Put this on the  ground! I left my sunglasses in the  limo. I  need those fucking sunglasses! We need to go  back!              From the book "Dereliction of Duty" p. 71-72;  Hillary to Marine One helicopter pilot to turn  back while enroute to Air Force One.                                                                          (8) "Come on Bill, put your dick up! You can't fuck her here!!"              From the book "Inside the White House" by Ronald  Kessler, p. 243; Hillary to Gov. Bill Clinton when she spots him talking with an attractive female                                                                  This ill-tempered, violent, loud-mouth, hateful, and  abusive woman wants to be your next President and have total control as Commander and Chief of our military, the very military for which she has shown incredible disdain throughout her public life. Remember her most vile  comment about Benghazi:  "what difference at this  point does it make?"   Remember what class Laura and George W. Bush brought to the White House and how they treated the Secret Service detail and the military. They even spent some  Christmas holidays at Camp David instead of the Texas  ranch so the Secret Service detail could spend  the holidays with their  families. Now it is clear why the crew of "Marine One" helicopter nick-named the craft "Broomstick ONE" !

Operation Overlord Commences

Baby Pictures

    If you haven't seen the photo of my new granddaughter, here she is. That's Klara Jean Jorgensen at one day old.
     The others are my 5-year-old granddaughter Sofia, taken about three weeks ago by Melina Gabbard-Shields, a nice young lady walking around taking photos at Point Defiance Park.

Memorial Day 2016

No matter what your plans are for today, please take a moment to remember those who gave their lives for our country.

Siblings Day

     Here's me with my sisters in 1985. Denise is on the left and Wendy on the right. The woman in the middle is our mother.

Nam Vets Day

Today is Vietnam Veterans Day. On this day in 1973 we left that lovely country and two years later "peace with honor" went out the window, to no one's surprise.

Delegate

I went to the Democratic caucus for Washington State today. I cast my vote for Bernie Sanders and volunteered to be a delegate for the next caucus up the line. The Clinton machine has been stealing or subjugating too many votes lately and I want to make sure mine is counted properly. Incidentally, this state is killing it for Bernie.

This Blew My Mind

Clarence "Frogman" Henry is 79 years old today, one year younger than Ursula Andress, who turns 80 today.

Klara at 28 Weeks

     This is both amazing and weird. It's a 3-D ultrasound of my unborn granddaughter at 28 weeks. Kind of cute for a fetus, isn't she?

Remember the Alamo

     On this day in 1836 the Alamo fell to the forces of General Santa Anna. Among the defenders who died in the battle was Davy Crockett, pictured above.

Last Birthday For a While

     Linda was born on this day in 19-mumbledy-mumble. It was a very active and full day for both of us and I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend. Happy birthday, Linda.

That Day Again

How does it feel to be 93? I don't know, you'll have to ask my mother. She reached that milestone today and (knock wood) she's doing very well. Here's her photo from about half a century ago. I know I've used it before but it's late and I need to publish this thing before the day is out.

Happy Birthday, Honest Abe

Born Feb 12, 1809.

Died April 15, 1865

Happy Birthday, Molly

My pup is five today, Feb 1.

Happy Birthday, Chief!

I lost track of the date, but on this one (Jan 16, 1918) my father was born. He died in 1977 from smoking. The ship is the USS Maccamaw, an oil tanker on which he served in the fifties.

Throwback Thursday

     On this day in 1903 the Wright Brothers made their historic powered aircraft flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
     And no, that's not Bill Crider in the background.